The 6th International Online Radio Amateur Theatre Festival, Theatre in Front of a Microphone, officially opened earlier this month in an online ceremony via Zoom.
The festival brought together more than 500 children and young people from Greece, Cyprus, and Australia, uniting voices, talent and Hellenic spirit as part of the “Youth Theatre on Air” initiative.
Launched in 2020, the festival has grown into a beloved international institution. This year, it featured 27 theatre groups — 11 from Greece, 12 from Cyprus, and four from Melbourne — each presenting unique radio theatre productions that blended storytelling with sound design and creativity.
A key highlight of the opening ceremony was a presentation by Natasa Vissarionos titled “Theatre and Hellenism of the Diaspora — Radio Theatre as a Cultural Bridge”.
Her talk underscored the festival’s role in connecting young Hellenes across the globe through shared creative expression.
On 7 May, the festival continued with an in-person workshop in Thessaloniki, including live Zoom access for international participants, further strengthening global ties through the performing arts.
The event is a collaborative effort between the Theatrical Visual Arts Centre “Poupoulo” (Thessaloniki), Motivation in Arts Foundation (Paphos), and Creative Drama & Arts (Melbourne). The festival will return in 2026 with fresh works, new ideas, and the same dedication to uniting Hellenic youth worldwide.
The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) schools and Alphington Grammar were standout participants, earning top distinctions in the secondary education category:
3rd Prize (Secondary Education): Our Lady the Midwife — Greek Language & Culture Schools of GCM, Melbourne
Distinction in Editing: The Legend of Nian — Alphington Grammar School
Distinction in Music Score: The Legend of Nian — Alphington Grammar School
Greek Language & Theatre in the Diaspora Distinction: The Locket — Greek Language & Culture School, Balwyn
These achievements highlighted Melbourne’s dynamic Greek educational institutions and their commitment to arts, language, and cultural preservation.
A distinguished ten-member jury assessed the productions, including key figures from Greece, Cyprus, and Australia:
Asterios Peltekis (Artistic Director, National Theatre of Northern Greece)
Kyriakos Pastides (RIK radio producer, educator)
Dr Stavroula Nikoloudi (Lecturer, La Trobe University, Melbourne)
Themis Kallos (Director, SBS Greek Radio)
Spyros Kavakopoulos (Sound engineer, ERT)
Yiannis Aivazoglou (Musician and composer)
Dr Renata Dalianoudi (Ionian University)
Dr Andri H. Constantinou (Frederick University)
Dr Katerina Brentanou (Theatre scholar)
Smaragda Papadopoulou-Mantadaki (Author, International Hellenic University)
